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Previously answered questions

Will my imported Amarok be VRT-free?

Hi,

I am moving back to Ireland permanently next year from Australia. I own a 2016 VW Amorak that I want to bring back with me. I own the vehicle for more than six months. Can you confirm if I will be exempt from VRT and if there are any other taxes, unexpected costs on arrival in Ireland?

Thank you

Bryan Glynn

Jun 2021 Filed under: importing

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What to replace my Mondeo with?

Please point me in right direction. I have a 2018 Ford Mondeo and would like to change in January 2022, so I need some advice. I like diesel. What three cars should I be test driving? Around the size of the Mondeo with five doors. Help!

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge County Kildare)

Jun 2021 Filed under: choosing new car

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Which full-size new seven-seater to go for?

Hi

I currently have a Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace but would like to upgrade to a seven-seater with seven full-sized seats as I'm expecting my fourth child. I'm looking at the SEAT Alhambra, which ticks a lot of boxes, but would prefer a petrol or hybrid option. I can't go electric as parking is on-street and there's no option to plug in. Looking at a 2021 Alhambra so would consider something in a similar price range.

Any advice appreciated,

Karen

Karen Golden (Dublin 6)

Jun 2021 Filed under: choosing new car

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Can I bring two cars to Ireland exempt?

Hi there,

I am going to be moving from UK to Ireland. If I have owned two vehicles for more than six months are both vehicles exempt?

Thanks in advance

Scott Jolly (Ipswich)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

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Is it ok to keep a UK car here during lockdown?

Hi guys,

My daughter drove home to Dublin from London last October in her UK-registered car. It has been sitting on the road outside the house since then, she drives around occasionally to keep the battery up. She is still here because of the lockdown here and in London. My neighbour has said that if someone reports the car to Customs that they can take it off her and she will have to pay import duty to get it back. She has owned it more than six months. It is her intention that if we and the UK EVER get out of lockdown that she will drive back to London.

She has no money as a result of Covid and is on the Covid payment and came home because she could not afford her rent in London. My husband and myself have been in lockdown for over a year now, we are just not able for the worry of this. Have you any advice please? We do not have a driveway big enough to take this car.

Regards Helen

Helen ONeill (Dublin)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

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Help me understand import costs please!

Hi,

I am interested in importing a used 3.0-litre V6 Jaguar XF from England (2013-2014 and about £12,000). I am finding the real cost of doing so very confusing especially the VAT implications. If I have to pay the Irish VAT rate of 21% is it possible to avoid paying VAT on the car in the UK or will I be paying VAT in both countries? Also, since the XF is manufactured in the UK does this mean that it is exempt from the 10% customs duties incurred since Jan 2021? Any insight would be much appreciated.

Eoin Murray (Dublin)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

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I have a unique import question from NI!

I have a two-part question. Can you offer clarification on the distinction between registering a car vs importing a car to NI/ROI after the Brexit cut-off date? Back story: I have a GB reg car and I've been the registered keeper of it for more than two years. I took it to NI in Sep 2020, before the Brexit cut off date of 1 Jan 2021. However, it has still been registered at a GB address, whilst I move between the two countries. I am now ready to register the car in NI at a permanent address.

1) Are there UK custom duties and VAT now attached to this if I register it in NI? Or because the car was taken (can I say imported?) to NI before the cut off date - just not registered - is the process the same pre-Brexit? It is still registered at an English address. I would specifically like to check if registering the vehicle in NI before the cut off date was necessary to avoid the extra UK import fees due to Brexit?

2) When I subsequently move to the ROI, will the car be subjected to Irish Customs Duty, VAT and VRT? I keep reading used cars from Northern Ireland will not be subjected to the new customs/VAT fees but I'm not sure if this is applicable to the car detailed above. Revenue.ie state: "You can register a vehicle registered before 1 January 2021 without any checks on the customs status if it was registered: i) in Northern Ireland or ii) to a person resident in Northern Ireland". So whilst it wasn't registered in Northern Ireland, it was registered to a person with an address in Northern Ireland before the cut off date.

Any information is gratefully received.

Cheers

Caroline Ponsonby (Lisburn)

Mar 2021 Filed under: importing

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My oil change light has come on!

My warning to change the engine oil is on even though I have only done only a few hundred miles since new!

Luk Comanescu (Cahir Co. Tipperary)

Mar 2021 Filed under: fault

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How much to tax a commercial privately?

Hi,

How much would it cost roughly to tax a commercial van like a Ford Transit ot Transit Connect LWB or something similar for private use?

Thanks.

Rhys Rutherford (Ballinasloe )

Mar 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle

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How to make my commercial Kuga private?

Hi,

I have a 191 Ford Kuga Utility four-seat commercial that I'm looking in the near future to use privately. Is this as simple as insuring and taxing it as a private vehicle or are there any other steps, i.e re-registering it as a private vehicle?

Thanks in advance for your help

Stuart Coonerny

Mar 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle

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4,889 Irish motoring queries answered to date

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